Artificial candle



July 13, 1965 R. M. KOCH ARTIFICIAL CANDLE Filed Aug. 7, 1962 .M J 4 8 4a 6 6 m x n I 3 2 5 2 w m 0N a: w m Ill. 9 9 919 c R w A H l ll m y||fl.. 0 r 2 P w m a w M Q 4 9 4. 1!- l m5 M.- 4 l 9 6 x v I. I} w 2A 2m m 5 a m a. 6 F k United States Patent 3,194,955 ARTIFICIAL CANDLERoderic M. Koch, P1). Box 358, Evansville, Ind. Filed Aug. 7, 1952, Ser.No. 215,377 2 Claims. (Ci. 240-1064) The present invention relates tonew and useful improvements in portable lamps and more particularly andspecifically to a novel and useful imitation, self-contained ceremonialcandle.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide anattractive, simulated candle which is battery powered to provide along-lasting, windproof simulated flame light for use in religious andother ceremonies.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a simplefireproof candle for decorative or ceremonial purposes.

Still another object of the present invention rests in the provision ofa realistic, simulated candle which has authentic appearance and whichmay be easily handled for ceremonial purposes Without extinguishing thelight or flame thereof, and which is at all times fireproof and safe inhandling.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a simple andinexpensive, yet attractive and durable artificial candle.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent to those skilled in the art when thefollowing general statement and description are read in the light of theaccompanying drawings.

The nature of the present invention may be stated in general terms asrelating to an imitation or artificial candle primarily for ceremonialuses consisting of an elongated tubular housing, a removable cap in oneend of said housing, a lamp bulb socket in said removable cap, ametallic cage secured to and depending from said cap within saidhousing, spring means in the bottom of said cage compressing dry cellbatteries therein toward said cap and lamp bulb socket, and a flamesimulating lamp bulb fixed in said socket and having electrical contactwith the uppermost of said dry cells in said cage.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numeralsdesignate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of the novel candle with internal partsillustrated in dotted line for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the candle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 33, FIG. 2.

The imitation candle constituting the present invention consists of ahousing having a bottom closure 12, a top closure 14, a lamp bulb 16,and a battery cage, generally designated 17, supported within thehousing in operable relationship to the lamp bulb 16.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the housing 10 consists of anelongated tube of opaque, colored plastic or other non-conductivematerial. The bottom closure 12 may be separately or integrally formedrelative to the tube and is of the same material and appearance toprovide a finished end thereon.

The top closure or cap 14 consists of a disc having an undercut annulargroove 15 on the underside thereof for Patented July 13, 1965 receptionof the wall of the housing about its open end, and said groove defininga depending plug portion 18 centrally thereof. The cap 14 is formed froma metallic, conductive material and is provided centrally therethroughwith a threaded passage 20 forming a lamp base socket for the threadedreception of the metallic base 22 of the flame simulating lamp bulb 16.

Secured to and depending from the cap 14 is a cage 17 for the receptionand retention of a plurality of dry cell batteries 24 in a manner to behereinafter described. The cage 17 consists of a pair of elongatedU-shaped brackets 26 and 28, each composed of flat, spring metal strapswhich are positioned one within the other and at right angles to oneanother so that the bottom legs of the two cross and form a bottomplatform 30 for the cage 17.

The free ends of the two legs of the U bracket 26 are secured, as at 32,in diametric opposition to the pendant wall of the plug portion 18 oftop cap 14 in conductive contact therewith. One leg of the U bracket 28is also secured to the plug portion 18 of the cap 14 at a point from thepoints of attachment of bracket 26. The second leg 34 of bracket 28 isshorter than the other leg and terminates short of the cap 14, as isbest seen in FIG 2.

A metallic, coil spring 36 is secured within the cage to the bottomplatform 30 to project for a spaced distance thereabove. Anon-conductive ring or collar 38 is secured to the underside of plugportion 18 of cap 14 concentrically about the lamp base socket openingin the cap. The thickness of collar 38 is greater than the height of theusual dry cell terminal 40 above the cell casing.

When two dry cell batteries 24 are placed in end to end relationship incage 17 through the opening provided by deforming the upper free end ofbracket leg 34 outwardly, an open circuit is created from the terminalon the top battery, through the lower battery, the spring and bracketlegs to the metallic cap 14. When the terminal base of lamp bulb 16 ismoved downwardly into contact with the terminal 40 on the upper batterythe circuit is closed, energizing the lamp.

As is best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the lamp is lighted andextinguished by rotating it from the full line to the dotted linepositions shown, into and out of contact with the uppermost dry cell.

As is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that the length .oftube 10 be such as to provide beneath the bottom platform 30 of the cageelement 17 therein and the fixed bottom closure 12, ample length andspace to accommodate two additional dry cell batteries in storedcondition where they are readily available for replacement of those inoperative condition in the cage upon failure thereof.

Thus, it may be seen from the foregoing that a simple, inexpensive andattractive candle simulating lamp has been provided which attains andsatisfies all of the objects and attributes hereinbefore set forth.

Thus having described and explained my invention in terms of itsstructural components and its operation, what I desire to claim is:

1. An imitation ceremonial candle comprising, an elongated tubularhousing of non-conductive material, a cap fixed in the bottom of saidhousing, a metallic cap removably plugging the top end of said housing,a metallic cage suspended from said top cap telescopically within saidhousing, said cage consisting of two U-shaped metal- 3 lic strips seatedone within the other and at right angles thereto, a metallic springsecured to the inside bottom face of said cage, a plurality of dry cellbatteries supported vertically in said cage With the lowermost batteryseating on said spring, an insulating collar interposed between said topcap and the uppermost battery in said cage, and a flame simulating lampbulb screw seated in said top cap and contacting a terminal of theuppermost battery in said cage.

2. An imitation ceremonial candle as defined in claim 1 wherein bothupper extremities of one and one upper extremity of the other of the twoU-shaped metallic strips are secured to and in electrical contact withsaid metallic top cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,710,418 4/29Gross 240-1054 2,097,222- 10/ 3-7 Tompkins et al. 24010.66 2,296,2879/42 Leyde 240-10.6 2,377,161 5/45 Le Strange et a1 240-10.66 2,381,5208/45 Saunders 24010.66

FOREIGN PATENTS 811,806 8/51 Germany.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

NORTON ANSHER, Examiner.

1. AN IMITATION CERMONIAL CANDLE COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED TUBULARHOUSING OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A CAP FIXED IN THE BOTTOM OF SAIDHOUSING, A METALLIC CAP REMOVABLY PLUGGING THE TOP END OF SAID HOUSING,A METALLIC CAGE SUSPENDED FROM SAID TOP CAP TELESCOPICALLY WITHIN SAIDHOUSING, SAID CAGE CONSISTING OF TWO U-SHAPED METALLIC STRIPS SEATED ONEWITHIN THE OTHER AND AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, A METALLIC SPRING SECUREDTO THE INSIDE BOTTOM FACE OF SAID CAGE, A PLURALITY OF DRY CELLBATTERIES SUPPORTED VERTICALLY IN SAID CAGE WITH THE LOWERMOST BATTERYSEATING ON SAID SPRING, AN INSULATING COLLAR INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID TOPCAP AND THE UPPERMOST BATTERY IN SAID CAGE, AND A FLAME SIMULATING LAMPBULB SCREW SEATED IN SAID TOP CAP AND CONTACTING A TERMINAL OF THEUPPERMOST BATTERY IN SAID CAGE.